Moen’s towers are an improvement

Despite what a handful people are saying about Marc Moen’s towers “not being welcome” or being “an eyesore” on the pedestrian mall, that’s simply not true.

As a matter of fact, Moen’s towers are very welcome. Iowa City needs to take on more of a big city vibe, which can be done without forsaking the culture that exists here.

Growing the city grows the culture. But for what it’s worth, the modern-looking towers that Moen builds are far better looking than the ubiquitous four-story, brick apartment buildings with commercial space on the ground floor that seem to sprout up on every other block. (Not to mention that Moen towers actually fill their commercial spaces before construction.)

Do you remember how ugly the ped mall had gotten before they spruced it up? Rotting railroad ties on the flower beds? The three-women-peeing fountain? Not to mention the dirty ped mall rats?

Those two towers, plus the new library, have worked against that trend and have made the ped mall, as a whole, an attractive place again — a place worth bringing friends and family to rather than just somewhere to avoid.